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Al-Anon meetings support friends and family of alcoholics

Members of Al-Anon host weekly meetings with the aim of supporting individuals whose friends or family are suffering from alcoholism.

Members of Al-Anon host weekly meetings with the aim of supporting individuals whose friends or family are suffering from alcoholism.

The meetings− held every Sunday at the Memorial Presbyterian Church at 8 p.m.− are anonymous, and are run by group members who take turns chairing the meetings.

During meetings, Conference-approved literature is discussed, personal testimonies are shared and members are introduced to the Twelve-step Alcoholics Anonymous program.

Robyn, a group member who asked that only her first name be printed, described the program as being available to help people and teach them how to live with an alcoholic, sober or not.

“Alcoholics are always alcoholics whether they are sober or in sobriety,” she said.

Robyn said people don’t choose to become alcoholics. Addictions, she added, can be passed genetically.

“An alcoholic is considered someone who can’t call it quits to alcohol,” she said. “They can’t stop after one drink. It’s almost like a chemical imbalance in the brain, they don’t know how to stop or when to stop

“It’s a progressive disease as well. The more they put the drug into their body, the more they progress in the disease.”

Robyn said meeting attendances can range from five to 20 people, and include people of a variety of ages.

“The steps really help, (and group members can) turn things from negative to positive by working through the steps,” Robyn said.

For more information on meetings, contact Robyn at 403-887-2961.